Counterfeit Date: Echo Ridge Romance Read online

  “You want to take the kayaks out?” he asked.

  Lolly stepped back, surprised by the sudden invitation. “I’ll take it,” she said.

  “That’s a yes?”

  “Lucky for you, it is.”

  “Well, okay, then.” He grinned and turned slightly.

  She fell into step beside him. What if she stank? Did she stink? Secret antiperspirant usually did the job pretty well, but Lolly had been hiking and running in the mountains for almost an hour.

  They sauntered onto the dock—his dock, she reminded herself. How cool was that? Lolly took a sidelong glance at Mason. With that sculpted face, blue eyes, and his strawberry-blond hair, he reeled her right in. Oh, yum. He was such a beautiful man, and she loved how relaxed and chill he was. He exuded a calming feeling that she really could use in her life. Her parents spent their lives traveling and trying to find happiness beyond the horizon, and her sister was a supermodel and lived a frenzied life. Lolly had never been around someone who was confident and at peace like Mason.

  She settled into the kayak with only minimal bobbing as Mason steadied it for her. When he handed her a paddle, his fingers brushed hers. Just like when she’d touched his arm outside Kenworth’s, she was infused with energy and a simple happiness that she knew wasn’t normal from a mere touch. Mason’s eyes flew to hers and he stared at her for half a beat before releasing the handle and picking up his own paddle.

  “What was that?” she asked.

  “What?” Mason turned to her.

  Lolly swallowed and looked away. If he hadn’t noticed the connection, she wouldn’t humiliate herself by divulging what she’d felt. “Nothing.”

  The kayak was of an open style, so she just rested her feet at the end and then focused on rowing. She dug her paddle into the water on the right side of her kayak and succeeded in going in a wide circle before smacking back into the dock.

  Mason laughed. “Need some help over there?”

  “Nope. I’m a pro.” She grinned, soaking in the environment. The water sparkled off the blue lake, and the air was so crisp and clear up here. “I want to live here,” she declared.

  “On the lake?” Mason climbed into his own kayak, paddled around the dock, and came up next to her.

  “I’d take anywhere in the mountains. Do you realize how lucky you are?”

  His eyes swept over her. “Today I think I do.”

  Heat flushed through Lolly’s cheeks, which surprised her. She was usually the one who teased and flirted, and nothing made her blush.

  He cleared his throat. “You ready for a kayaking lesson?”

  She tilted her chin up. “No, sir. Told you I’m a pro.” She dug her paddle in deep and pushed with all her strength, flinging it across her body to the other side to repeat the action. Her kayak lurched one way and then the other, but she was at least moving forward.

  Several strokes later, she made the mistake of simultaneously digging deep with her paddle and turning to see if Mason was watching. He was, with an amused smile on his face. She flipped back around and dug her paddle in on the same side again. The kayak was already tilted to the right, and her digging in on the right propelled her farther that direction. She gasped and shifted her weight quickly to the left.

  “Lolly!” Mason called out.

  She’d shifted too far. The kayak flipped to the left and she launched into the lake with a squeak. The icy water embraced her and she sucked in air when she should’ve been holding her breath. Beating at the water, she broke the surface and grabbed on to her kayak, sputtering out water.

  “Lolly.” Mason urged his kayak quickly to her side. “Are you okay?”

  Her only answer was a ragged cough, trying to clear her lungs of the water she’d inhaled.

  He reached out his hand. “Leave the kayak. I’ll get it later.”

  Still coughing, Lolly reached for his hand. His hand surrounded hers and he pulled her up toward him. Lolly was terrified they were going to tip right over again, but he was able to pull her up onto his open kayak, where she lay flat on her stomach. On top of his legs. Oh, this was awkward.

  “Here,” he said. “Spin around and sit in front of me.”

  “You’re halli-hootoo,” she got out between coughs.

  “I’m not even sure what that means.”

  Her coughs finally calmed down, and she was better able to appreciate how clumsily she was sprawled there. “I can’t just spin around without dumping us both in the water.”

  “Sure you can. And what’s the worst that happens? I end up in the water with you?”

  “You’re brave right now. You haven’t felt how cold that water is.”

  He laughed. “I swim in the lake almost every morning.”

  Lolly glanced up at him and unfortunately imagined him swimming. It was a good image. “Okay, I guess we’ll end up wet together.” She kind of liked the thought of together with him.

  “I’ll take my chances with you.” He held his hand out to help her balance.

  Lolly stared, swallowing hard so she didn’t simply fling herself into his arms. Did that mean he’d really take his chances with her, or just with her in the kayak? She gingerly got to her knees in the middle of the kayak. It wobbled but didn’t flip. Cautiously, she pivoted around until she was sitting in the small spot of plastic between Mason’s legs. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, one hand holding the paddle.

  Lolly caught a breath, wanting to snuggle in even closer. No, that was wrong of her. She couldn’t be hanging out with Mason and cuddling up against him. He started paddling slowly, and each time he brought the paddle down, his arm would brush hers and send flutters of awareness through her. Oh goodness, she should’ve risked the hypothermia and swum back to the dock.

  The ride back seemed to take forever as she held herself rigidly, and for one of the first times in her life, she had no clue what to say. She wanted to sigh and lean against his chest, but she was proud she had at least a little self-control. She’d never enjoy being close to Mason like this again; she might as well savor the moment.

  They reached the dock, and he held on to it as she climbed over him and onto the wooden planks. Mason climbed on the dock next to her, then bent down and tied the kayak on.

  As he straightened, she leaned back to look into his beautiful face. “Well, thank you for the lovely kayak ride. I guess I’ll run along home.” Lolly backed away, squishing in her wet running shoes.

  “Wait.” Mason held up a hand and followed her. “You need to get dry first.”

  “I do?” She figured she’d be fine. It was seventy degrees out here, at least, and it might be slightly uncomfortable with wet shoes and she might shiver until she got moving, but she’d get back down the mountain all right.

  “I got you all wet; the least I can do is offer you a towel.”

  “I think this one was all on me,” she said, sweeping her hand over her wet clothes.

  “You can’t go home like a drowned rat.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Now that’s attractive.”

  “You are.” He rubbed at his neck and looked down.

  Oh, man, he was cute. “So you want me to drip all over your floor and get your towels filthy?”

  He chuckled. “Yes. And join me for breakfast.”

  “Breakfast?” Now that was a little more than she’d bargained for.

  “I cook up a mean breakfast burrito.”

  Lolly looked him over. “Well, okay, then. I guess you do kind of owe me.”

  “That’s exactly what I thought.”

  Lolly grinned and walked beside him toward his cabin. Kaitlyn didn’t have to know she was falling for Mason. She could simply enjoy hanging out with him for a few weeks, just another guy in a long line of micro-relationships. It didn’t have to mean anything, right? So why did she tingle every time he so much as looked at her?

  * * *

  Mason hurried from crumbling sausage to turning bacon, then stirring the hash browns and scrambling eggs. Lol
ly was in charge of shredding cheese, cooking the tortillas, and stirring up the frozen orange juice.

  He really, really liked having her in his cabin. He realized he’d never had anyone over but his family and their family friends—Drew, Chelsea, and their boys. Having Lolly here heightened every sensation. He tried not to stare at her. She was beautiful, and the way her clothes clung to her body from being dunked in the lake made him hot and cold all over.

  He hadn’t dated much after Kaitlyn dumped him before his junior year of college. He didn’t blame Kaitlyn. She’d outgrown their high school romance and then fallen in love with Axel. Yet it had burned Mason to be happy and thinking he was in love one minute, and then suddenly the girl he’d planned to spend his life with was gone. So he’d focused on school and lacrosse and hadn’t dated very much. It had worked out well, as he’d been able to get his bachelor’s and master’s in accounting in four years and he’d loved playing lacrosse for Syracuse. Yet with Lolly in his kitchen, he was realizing maybe he shouldn’t have taken college so seriously. Maybe he should’ve taken some of the girls up on their offers to date. Would any of them have affected him like Lolly was?

  Lolly was a vivacious breath of fresh air, and he was all too aware of her as they cooked together. He tended to lean toward the serious side of life, especially after dealing with an abusive stepfather throughout his teenage years and spending most of his time worrying about how to protect his mom and sisters. Now his mom was married to one of his favorite people—Chayton Leichty, his former lacrosse coach—and his family was happy and safe, but he still struggled sometimes thinking about those years. Being around someone like Lolly, who made him laugh and seemed to go through life with a grin on her face, was much too appetizing.

  Would it be awkward for Lolly if he asked her out? She was Kaitlyn’s best friend and might think that was some betrayal. He stirred the eggs as his stomach lifted and then dropped. Lolly was only here to visit, and Kaitlyn had told him in college that Lolly dated a different guy every day, sometimes multiple guys in one day. He didn’t need his heart broken again.

  He snuck another glance at Lolly, and apologized to his heart.

  * * *

  Mason was much too quiet as they finished preparing the meal and sat down to eat. He offered a prayer and then flashed her a forced smile. “Help yourself.”

  Lolly loaded eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, and cheese onto a tortilla and rolled it up. Why did it feel like something had changed while they cooked? Mason wasn’t naturally flirtatious, but she knew flirting and he’d been excelling at it earlier. Now he was kind of stiff and awkward.

  She took a bite of her breakfast burrito, chewing slowly. “It’s really good,” she said.

  “Thanks.”

  Lolly tilted her head to the side, appraising him. If things were going to be awkward between them anyway, she might as well throw it out there. “Are you dating anyone?”

  He glanced at her before studying his food. “Ah, no.”

  That response shouldn’t have made her so irrationally happy. “Have you dated anyone since Kait?”

  An adorable flush crept up his cheeks. How could a man be so hot and so cute at the same time? She shouldn’t have asked him that—it was too personal—but she’d never been one to not ask when a question was burning inside of her.

  He shook his head and took a large, conversation-avoiding bite of his breakfast burrito.

  Lolly’s stomach dipped and swirled. He was so innocent and sweet. She was the first to admit that she flitted through men, but she’d never been drawn in by someone like this. Was it just pity over the way things ended with him and Kaitlyn and knowing the tough things he’d dealt with in his life, or was it that he was perfect and could be the one she could never get enough of?

  “Aw, that’s sad,” she said. “I’m sure you’re breaking lots of girls’ hearts.”

  His grin was slow and irresistible. “There is someone I really want to date.”

  “Oh?” Her hopes deflated and her philosophical discussions came to a screeching halt. He was into someone. That sucked for her, but Mason deserved happiness. He was a fabulous guy. “Why don’t you ask her out?”

  He drank some juice and then murmured, “She’s out of my league.”

  “What? That’s ridiculous, Mace.” Had she just used his nickname? Now her face was reddening. “You could get any girl you wanted. You’re a stud.”

  He met her gaze for a couple of long seconds, his expression unreadable. “Thanks, Lolly. Coming from you, that means a lot.”

  She’d always hated her name, ever since she was a small child, but when it rolled off of Mason’s tongue, it sounded intriguing and beautiful. She smiled at him before she remembered that he was interested in someone else. That girl must be special to have Mason after her. It kind of broke Lolly’s heart that she wouldn’t have any chance with him, but Kaitlyn would’ve been a huge issue between them anyway. She was staying at Kaitlyn’s home and they were business partners and best friends. It wouldn’t be cool to drag a thorny relic from Kaitlyn’s past back into her life.

  Not that the breakup had been nasty. It was just that after years together, it had to be uncomfortable for them now. Mason needed a happily ever after more than anyone, and she was going to make sure he got it.

  “So you need to just get brave and ask her out.”

  “Do I?”

  “Yes, sir. Let’s plan a date for Saturday night.” As she spoke, his blue eyes twinkled at her, and she had to gulp away the desire to fling herself at him. “I mean, for you and her. That gives us almost a week to set up the perfect date.” She could do this. She liked matchmaking. Mason should be off-limits to her, but it would be fun to hang out with him and help him find his happily ever after.

  “I don’t know. It’s been a while since I dated someone, and I don’t want to mess it up.”

  “Okay, you are, like, perfect,” she sputtered out.

  His eyebrows rose at that.

  “But even perfection can use some fashion sense and a woman’s touch.” She’d not only help him plan the date; she’d make sure he was dressed to the nines and irresistible. Okay, he was already irresistible in a T-shirt, but still. Fashion was her thing. “Yep. I’m going to help you.”

  “Help me?” His brow wrinkled.

  “You ask your girl out and I’ll help you get ready, and if she can resist you, then she’s an idiot and you didn’t want her anyway.”

  He grinned again, and Lolly had to hold on to the chair to keep herself from launching at him. “I’ll ask her out if you commit to spend the next six days ‘helping me.’” He shot her a challenging stare, like a preacher committing someone to get to church each week.

  “I’m all over you—I mean, helping you.” Yikes! Could she do this? Be Mason’s friend and remain detached? She’d have to be really careful not to touch him, or look at him too long, or smell him. This was going to be rough.

  She eyed him critically like she would look over a new dress design. There really wasn’t much she would change about him physically. Okay, she wouldn’t change anything about him physically, but he’d asked for her help and he would get it. “I’ll get some appointments for you tomorrow. We’ll have a spa day.”

  “Whoa, sorry. Not getting my eyebrows waxed.”

  She studied his eyebrows. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you. A trim for your hair, and then we’ll just do fun stuff like facials, pedicures, and manicures.”

  He drew back, shaking his head. “I have to work tomorrow.”

  “You work, like, nine to five, right?”

  “Most days.”

  “Okay. I’ll set up the appointments for five o’clock.” She grinned and took another bite of her breakfast burrito. “This is going to be fun!”

  Mason gave her a slow grin. “Spending time with you? Definitely fun. Spending time at the ‘spa’? Not so much.”

  Heat rushed through Lolly. If only he didn’t already have someone he wanted to date and Ka
itlyn wasn’t between them. She shook her head. It was fine. She’d be gone in a couple of weeks anyway. Mason deserved happiness, and obviously not with her. She would help him find it. “Everything with me is fun,” she threw back at him.

  “Believe me, I know that.”

  Lolly drained half of her glass of orange juice, trying to cool the heat in her face. It didn’t work.

  Chapter Three

  Mason’s brain was spinning as he tried to crunch numbers at work. How was he going to tell Lolly that she was the girl he wanted to date? Why hadn’t he told her this morning? He was dumb. And wimpy. He’d never been wimpy about anything, but the stakes were high. He wanted to be with Lolly.

  He stood and paced to his mini-fridge, pulling out a water bottle and taking a long drink. Setting the water bottle on the desk, he stared at his view of Kenworth’s and the park. Lolly and Kaitlyn had their clothing line in the store now. Good for them. As he stood there, he saw Jessica walking out of Kenworth’s, pushing a double stroller with her two boys.

  Jessica. She’d have the answer. A smile came over his face as he rushed out of his office and into the main area.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he told their secretary, Amy.

  “All right.”

  He pushed out the glass doors and ran to Jessica. “Hey, how are ya?” he called to her.

  Her eyes widened and her steps slowed. “Mason?”

  He realized he was being way too exuberant. Very out of character for him. “I need help,” he rushed out.

  “With what?” Jessica grinned. “I didn’t think the tough Mason Turner would ever need somebody’s help.”

  He laughed, realizing he had portrayed that image to most of Echo Ridge. It was mostly a defense mechanism as a teenager when he’d been in huge need of help but hadn’t wanted to embarrass his mom or himself by asking. Teenage pride.

  One of the small boys in the stroller chucked his juice box. Mason scooped it up and handed it back to him. “Hey, little man.”